New Delhi [India], Nov. 16 (ANI): Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - 'Saubhagya' web portal, a platform for monitoring household electrification progress was launched by R.K. Singh, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy on Thursday.

The Saubhagya Dashboard is a platform which would disseminate information on household electrification status (state, district, village-wise), household progress on live basis, state-wise target as compared to achievement and monthly electrification progress.

Achieving electrification of four crore households is a big challenge, but the government is committed to achieve this target by December 2018, with the cooperation of all the states, Singh said at the launch event.

"The Government is bringing a change in the power ecosystem in the country by pushing towards mandatory metering of all new electrical connections through pre-paid or smart meters. This would make paying of electricity bills viable for the poor, reduce power losses and increase compliance in paying electricity bills," Singh added.

The Minister further emphasized that the online platform would enable the creation of a system of accountability for the state utility/ DISCOMS and help in increasing their viability.

Saubhagya scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 25 with an outlay of Rs. 16,320 crores in order to provide all willing households in rural areas and poor families in urban areas free electricity connections.

There are around four crore un-electrified households in the country and they are targeted for providing electricity connections by December 2018.(ANI)